Nicotinamide Riboside Protects Mitochondria in Aging Kidneys: Preclinical Findings

Synopsis

As kidneys age, their cells, especially in the distal tubules, undergo changes in mitochondrial structure and function, but little is known about how aging or anti-aging interventions affect them. This study tested CYB5R3 overexpression and dietary nicotinamide riboside (NR) supplementation in mice to see how they influence distal tubule mitochondria. Using gene analysis and electron microscopy, the researchers found that aging affected males and females differently: older males had larger but fewer mitochondria, while older females had smaller and fewer mitochondria. The interventions helped prevent these age-related changes, but their effects differed by sex—NR worked better in males, while CYB5R3 overexpression worked better in females. Overall, these results show that anti-aging treatments can protect kidney mitochondria, but sex, diet, and genetics all influence how effective they are.

Journal

Aging Cell